An interior component of a vehicle includes a visible component facing the vehicle interior in the mounted state and a functional component connected to the visible component, wherein an axle component is provided on which, on the one hand, the visible component and, on the other hand, the functional component are mounted.
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1. An interior component of a vehicle, comprising a visible component facing the vehicle interior in the mounted state and a functional component connected to the visible component, wherein an axle component (26) is provided on which, on the one hand, the visible component and, on the other hand, the functional component are mounted, wherein the functional component has at least one hook (36) and at least one counter-bearing (40, 40′, 40″), wherein the at least one hook (36) and the at least one counter-bearing (40, 40′, 40″) are in engagement with the axle component (26) from opposite sides, and wherein the at least one hook (36) and the at least one counter-bearing (40, 40′, 40″) are offset with respect to one another in an axial direction of the axle component (26).
18. An interior component of a vehicle, comprising:
a visible component facing a vehicle interior when the visible component is in a mounted state, and
a functional component connected to the visible component,
wherein an axle component (26) is provided on which both the visible component and the functional component are mounted,
wherein the functional component is pivotably mounted, wherein the visible component and the functional component are mounted on the axle component (26) in such a way that a pivoting movement of the functional component does not require pivoting movement of the visible component;
wherein holding means are provided which interact with the functional component in multiple pivoted positions of the functional component in order to hold the functional component in any one of the multiple pivoted positions.
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The invention relates to an interior component of a vehicle, in particular a passenger car or truck, comprising a visible component facing the vehicle interior in the mounted state and a functional component connected to the visible component.
For example, pivotable air-guiding slats are provided in air vents of vehicles. There is sometimes the requirement to mount other components, for example covers, on said air-guiding slats. For this purpose, latching connections having omega-shaped latching hooks are known from the prior art. It is disadvantageous that the installation force is approximately identical to the removal force. There is therefore a conflict of objectives between having a desired removal force which is as high as possible to provide secure holding, on the one hand, and a load desired installation force, on the other hand. For example, required removal forces for a misuse situation may be 150 N. Added to this is the fact that the installation of the known latching connection is difficult. Even during the initial installation, the omega-shaped latching hooks may jam and even break off.
Taking the explained prior art as the starting point, the invention is based on the object of providing an interior component of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which a connection between a visible component and a functional component can be fitted simply and with low installation forces and at the same time provides high holding forces.
The invention achieves the object by means of the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous refinements are found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.
For an interior component of the type mentioned at the beginning, the invention achieves the object in that an axle component is provided on which, on the one hand, the visible component and, on the other hand, the functional component are mounted.
The interior component is installed in the interior of a vehicle, such as a passenger car or truck. It is visible to vehicle occupants. In particular, the visible component is visible from the vehicle interior. The visible component can have an elongate form. The functional component can also have an elongate form. The functional component carries out a function. For example, the functional component can carry out an air-guiding function or an operating function or the like. The visible component can be, for example, a cover or an illuminated component, such as a light guide, or a grille element. The functional component can be located in particular behind the visible component, as seen from the vehicle interior. The functional component can be (completely) concealed by the visible component, as seen from the vehicle interior. For example, it is possible for the visible component not to be thicker (for example not higher in the mounted state) than the functional component, in particular for it to have substantially the same thickness or height as the functional component.
According to the invention, an axle component is provided for connecting the visible component and the functional component. The axle component is of elongate design. For example, the axle component can be of cylindrical design. The axle component can also be elastic. A secure and simple connection between the visible component and the functional component is undertaken by the axle component. At the same time, the effect achieved by an axle component is great flexibility in respect of the configuration of the connection, for example pivotable connection/fixed connection, etc. The axle component permits simple installation with low installation forces, high holding forces, in particular higher holding forces than the required installation forces, being able to be realized at the same time in the mounted state. The disadvantages explained with respect to the prior art are overcome. For the installation, it is possible, for example, for first of all one component of the functional component and visible component to be preassembled on the axle component and, for the final installation, for the other component of the functional component and the visible component to then be mounted on the axle component.
As explained, high holding forces can be realized by the connection of the functional component and the visible component via the axle component, and therefore, even in the event of misuse, an undesired removal of the visible component and functional component can be avoided. The axle component here transmits the forces acting on the visible component. It is possible for removal not to be possible without additional tools. The high holding forces can in principle be present in all directions, but in particular in respect of a tensile force for releasing the visible component from the functional component. At the same time, the connection according to the invention by the axle component requires only little construction space, which is of great importance in particular in the case of air-guiding slats and their covers.
Of course, the interior component according to the invention can also be provided with a plurality of visible components and/or a plurality of functional components which are connected to one another via a plurality of axle components in the manner according to the invention.
The axle component can in particular form the single direct connection between the visible component and the functional component. It is also possible for the functional component and/or the visible component to in each case also be connected to another part of the interior component, for example to a housing. As explained, the axle component can be composed of an elastic material. This further facilitates the installation and at the same time provides a secure support. This is of advantage for the installation in particular where the available construction space is small. In addition, possible component tolerances can also be compensated for by an elastic axle component. This is particularly important if a plurality of axle components are provided in the interior component in order to connect a plurality of function components and visible components to one another.
According to a particularly preferred refinement, the functional component can be pivotably mounted, wherein the visible component and the functional component are mounted on the axle component in such a way that the visible component is not concomitantly pivoted during the pivoting movement of the functional component. In this refinement, the functional component is pivotable mounted, for example, on a housing part. Pivoting makes it possible to carry out a function, for example guiding an airflow in a desired direction. The axle component, in particular its longitudinal axis, then forms a pivot axis between the pivotably mounted functional component and the stationary visible component. It can thereby be ensured that the visible component is not concomitantly moved during pivoting of the functional component, i.e. is stationary, and its position and orientation do not change during a pivoting movement of the functional component. This is frequently desirable for visual reasons.
According to a further refinement, it can be provided that the visible component has at least one hook and at least one counter-bearing, wherein the at least one hook and the at least one counter-bearing are in engagement with the axle component from opposite sides, and wherein the at least one hook and the at least one counter-bearing are offset with respect to one another in the axial direction of the axle component. According to a further refinement, it can be provided that the functional component has at least one hook and at least one counter-bearing, wherein the at least one hook and the at least one counter-bearing are in engagement with the axle component from opposite sides, and wherein the at least one hook and the at least one counter-bearing are offset with respect to one another in the axial direction of the axial component.
The refinement with hook and counter-bearing permits simple and reliable installation, with a particularly secure support against unintentional release being achieved at the same time. The effect in particular achieved in this way is that removal is possible only with an appropriate tool. The holding forces can be increased further. Automatic release can be prevented. The axial direction is the longitudinal direction of the axle component here. The hooks can, for example, bound a receptacle in which the axle component is accommodated and is thus held in a first direction. The counter-bearings acting from the opposite side then holds the axle component in a second direction opposed to the first direction. The first and second direction run in particular perpendicularly to the axial direction of the axle component. The visible component and the functional component are thereby securely held on the axle component. Since the hooks and counter-bearings are each offset with respect to one another in the axial direction, within the course of the installation in particular an elastic axle component can simply be inserted into the hooks and counter-bearings by temporary elastic deformation, in particular serpentine deformation. For a secure support, it is possible, for example, for the visible component to have at least two hooks and at least one counter-bearing or at least one hook and at least two counter-bearings. In a corresponding manner, it is possible for the functional component to have at least two hooks and at least one counter-bearing or at least one hook and at least two counter-bearings. However, greater numbers of hooks and counter-bearings can also be provided, for example depending on the length of the visible component and/or functional component.
The hooks of the functional component and the hooks of the visible component can be in engagement with the axle component from opposite sides. The same is then true for the counter-bearings. A connection which is further secured is thereby realized. However, it is also possible for the hooks of the functional component and the hooks of the visible component to be in engagement with the axle component from the same side. The same is then true in turn for the counter-bearings.
According to a further refinement, the hooks of the functional component and the hooks of the visible component can be arranged directly adjacent to one another, and/or the counter-bearings of the functional component and the counter-bearings of the visible component can be arranged directly adjacent to one another. A particularly secure support against a tensile force acting on the visible component, for example in the event of misuse, is thereby achieved. In this refinement, when a tensile force is exerted, the axle component is thus subjected to a greater shearing stress than bending stress.
In the aforementioned refinement with hooks and counter-bearings, the axle component is inserted as a separate component into the functional component and the visible component. The installation sequence here is basically as desired. For example, the axle component can first of all be inserted into the visible component and subsequently into the functional component, or vice versa. As an alternative to the aforementioned holding via hooks and counter-bearings, it is also possible according to the invention, however, for the axle component, for example, to already be integrated into the functional component or the visible component during the production process of the functional component or of the visible component. For example, the axle component can be injection molded into the visible component or the functional component, in particular can be insert molded as a metal insert with plastic. The preassembly on one component of the functional component or visible component can then already take place during an automated production, and therefore subsequently, for the final installation, only the respectively other component of functional component and visible component still has to be arranged on the axle component.
A further alternative refinement for the installation of the functional component and the visible component on the axle component makes provision for the visible component and/or the functional component to have at least one holding portion with at least one (closed or semi-open) eye, wherein the axle component is inserted into the at least one eye. In this refinement, the axle component can be pushed laterally into the eye(s) for the installation. The functional component and/or the visible component here can have a plurality of eyes as bearing points, into which the axle component is introduced in succession. In this refinement, it is possible, for example, to first of all bring the eyes of functional component and visible component into overlap with one another and to subsequently push the axle component laterally into the eyes.
The functional component and/or the visible component can be composed of a plastic. The visible component and the functional component can be composed of the same material or of different materials. For example, the visible component can be composed of an unreinforced plastic and the functional component of a reinforced plastic, for example a glass fiber reinforced plastic. According to a particularly practical refinement, the axle component can be formed by a metal wire. Metal wires as axle components provide a very good spring action and at the same time a secure mounting. The metal used can be, for example, spring steel. Metal at the same time has sufficient heat stability, and therefore, for example in the event of use in an air vent which is exposed to a wide temperature range in accordance with the air temperature, optimum mounting always takes place.
In addition, metal is a good friction partner with plastic as may be used for the visible component and the functional component. Since the axle component transmits the forces acting on the visible component, for example in the event of misuse, the holding force is increased further by the use of a metal material.
According to a further particularly practical refinement, the interior component can be an air vent of a vehicle, wherein the visible component is a cover or a grille element or a light guide of the air vent. For example, a central web of a cover can be mounted on the axle component. Such a central web of the cover or the cover can be connected integrally to a cover frame or to the housing of the air vent or conform a separate part. According to the invention, a plurality of such visible components can also be combined in any desired manner. The cover and the housing of the air vent can be composed here of the same material, for example the same plastic, or of different materials, for example different plastics.
According to a further refinement in this regard, the functional component can be an air-guiding element, in particular an air-guiding slat, of the air vent. Air-guiding slats are pivoted in order to deflect the airflow, wherein decorative visible components are frequently provided on the front edge of the air-guiding slats facing the vehicle interior, with the intention being that the visible components, if possible, do not change their position and orientation during the pivoting of the air-guiding slat. At the same time, because of the small thickness of air-guiding slats and the correspondingly generally small thickness of the visible components provided at the front edges thereof, only a small construction space is available for the connection between the air-guiding slat and the visible component. Both requirements can be optimally met by the invention. However, of course, other components, for example operating elements or the like, are also conceivable as functional components.
The air-guiding element can have opposite pivot pins by means of which the air-guiding element is pivotably mounted on a housing of the air vent. Said pivot pins can be provided as an end-side extension of the axle component on the main slat body. In principle, a pivotable mounting of the air-guiding slats without such pivot pins is also conceivable by the pivot mounting being realized directly via the axle component by the axle component engaging, for example, in corresponding pivoting receptacles of the housing of the air vent.
In principle, a very wide variety of combinations of functional components and visible components is conceivable with the connection according to the invention of the visible component and functional component by means of an axle component. The connection of two fixed components, for example a decorative element with a cover or a light guide with a cover, or a decorative element with a housing, or a grille with a housing-side web, will be explained merely by way of example. The visible component should then in each case be considered to be the component which faces the vehicle interior and as a rule carries out a decorative function. The functional component should then in each case be considered to be the component which is connected to the visible component in the manner according to the invention. In this case, for example, a cover can also be a functional component by said cover, as the function, having a cover function, or a housing which, as the function, has, for example, the provision of a flow duct of an air vent. Furthermore, the connection of two movable, in particular pivotable, functional components and of a fixed visible component, for example the arrangement of two pivotable air-guiding slats behind a fixed cover, is mentioned merely by way of example. Furthermore, the combination of two fixed visible components and one or more movable, in particular pivotable functional components, for example the connection of a decorative component and/or of a light guide to a cover and at the same time a connection of the cover to one or more pivotable air-guiding slats or, for example, the connection of a grille to a pivotable air-guiding slat, is mentioned merely by way of example.
If a cover is present as one of the components, the configuration of said cover is likewise basically as desired. For example, one such cover can have an encircling or partial cover frame with a free flow cross section or with a grille structure in the flow cross section. Such a grille structure can be integrated, for example, into a plastics cover frame or, as a separate part, can be composed of other materials, for example metal. In this case, for example, an air-guiding slat can support the high forces acting on the grille structure in the event of misuse via the axle component and can thus avoid failure or breaking of the grille. As likewise already explained, such a cover can also contain, for example, one or more light guides. The light guide or the light guides can alternatively or additionally be connected to the cover or to a housing in the manner according to the invention via the axle component.
The axle component can be arranged concentrically to the pivot pins in order to permit as frictionless pivoting as possible. However, it is also possible for the axle component to be arranged (slightly) eccentrically with respect to the pivot pins. In principle, the aforementioned refinement can result in what is referred to as an axle-in-axle system by the pivot pins substantially forming an end-side extension of the axle component. A slight eccentricity between the axle component and the pivot pins may occur here consciously or else because of unavoidable component tolerances. Such a slight eccentricity produces a prestress which avoids a formation of noise, such as rattling, in an advantageous manner, but without noticeably increasing the operating forces. Thus, over the course of the installation, a slight bracing between the visible component and the air-guiding slat and also of the housing pivotably mounting the air-guiding slat occurs, as a result of which, in turn, a damping action on the pivoting movement is achieved. In this respect, the good friction pairing between metal and plastic is of particular advantage.
According to a further refinement, holding means can be provided which hold the functional component in at least one pivoted position. The holding means can comprise, for example, latching means and/or friction means which hold the functional component in the at least one pivoted position by latching and/or frictional force. The holding means hold the functional component, for example an air-guiding slat, in one or more pivoted positions, for example in all of the pivoted positions, against automatic adjustment, for example due to the action of gravity and/or action of an airflow flowing through an air vent equipped with the air-guiding slat. The friction means can be formed, for example, by the explained eccentric orientation between the axle component and pivot pins of the air-guiding slat. Alternatively or additionally, latching means can be provided which latch into place in certain pivoted positions and thus predetermine certain pivoted positions. In general, an inadvertent adjustment of the functional component is avoided by the holding means. Examples of suitable latching means are interacting grooves and ribs of parts moving relative to one another during the pivoting movement, for example between the visible component and the functional component or between the functional component and a housing of the air vent. The axle component itself can also be specially adapted in this respect, for example can have a geometry which is angled or curved in some other way and provides a corresponding friction force. For this purpose, it may be required to connect the axle component to one of the interconnected components for rotation therewith.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figures, in which, schematically:
Unless stated otherwise, the same reference signs denote the same objects in the figures.
The air vent which is illustrated in extremely schematic form in
It can be seen in the highly schematic, sectioned and partially transparent illustration of
The connection provided by the axle component 26 will be explained in more detail with regard to an exemplary embodiment with reference to
The again highly schematic view of
It can furthermore be seen in
Whereas, in the exemplary embodiment according to
In the arrangement shown in the figures, the longitudinal axis of the axle component 26 lies transversely with respect to the installation direction. In this configuration, a spring of sufficient length with a sufficient “resilient length” can be realized in the highly limited connection space between the cover 14 and the air-guiding slat 16. Excessive material stresses are thereby reliably avoided. Particularly in the case of galvanized covers and/or galvanized air-guiding slats, the production of stress cracks due to the rigid, non-resilient plastics connecting geometries (hooks and counter-bearings) is reliably avoided during the installation process. In addition, the hooks 28 and 36 respectively have an installation ramp 29 and 37 which reliably controls the bending of the axle component 26 during the installation. Destruction-free release of the axle component 26 from the fully mounted position is no longer possible because of the vertical blocking surfaces of the hooks 28, 36. Of course, the arrangement of hooks and counter-bearings is also possible in each case in the reverse manner than illustrated in the figures.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
6685555, | Sep 11 2002 | International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc | Climate control system outlet |
20160227670, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Jun 19 2018 | PESTKE, JOACHIM | Illinois Tool Works Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 049276 | /0266 | |
May 24 2019 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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